Sizl Secures $3.5M to Redefine Cook-to-Order Delivery with Fresh, Fast Eastern European Cuisine

Food delivery often comes with compromises—bland flavors, mass-produced meals, and impersonal service. I’ve seen this firsthand. That’s why when I came across Sizl, a Chicago-based cook-to-order startup, I knew I had to take a closer look. Sizl isn’t your average ghost kitchen. With a recent $3.5 million seed funding round at a $12 million post-money valuation, it’s aiming to completely shift how we think about delivery food.

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What Makes Sizl Stand Out in the Delivery Game?

Most ghost kitchens today serve as shared spaces, pumping out copy-paste virtual brands that lack authenticity and freshness. Sizl takes a radically different approach. Instead of outsourcing everything, Sizl runs its own kitchens, hires its own cooks (including a talented team of Ukrainian chefs and Chicago locals), and even manages its own fleet of couriers.

And yes, it has a mobile app too—but not just any app. Sizl’s app lets customers earn rewards, collect themed cards, and enjoy interactive mini-games. As someone who’s tried countless delivery services, I can say this gamified approach adds a fresh layer of engagement.

Real Ingredients, Real Chefs, Real Food

Sizl makes a big promise: meals made fresh to order and delivered in about 30 minutes. I had to know—how do they pull it off?

According to co-founder and COO Anastasia Kalinkina, Sizl sources its ingredients from local farms like Greensys in Illinois. While they do work with large distributors like US Foods and Sysco, a significant portion of their meat and produce still comes from regional suppliers. That commitment to freshness shows up in every bite.

The 60-item menu leans heavily into Eastern European comfort foods—chicken kyiv, pierogies, borscht (a Kalinkina family recipe), and syrniki. But Sizl also includes fan favorites like grilled cheese and spaghetti bolognese, giving users a wide but curated range of options.

From Ukraine to the U.S.: Founders with Proven Experience

What really impressed me is Sizl’s founding team: Anastasia Kalinkina, Alex Kolesnikov (CEO), Nick Delitski, and Kyrylo Kupin (CMO)—all originally from Ukraine. These aren't first-timers. They previously built a dark kitchen chain called Local Kitchen, which scaled to an impressive $46 million in annual revenue.

Their vision with Sizl is sharper: own the entire food delivery process and specialize in one culinary niche to deliver a consistently high-quality experience.

Why Sizl’s App Is a Game-Changer

I’ve used plenty of delivery apps. What makes Sizl’s app stand out is its built-in game mechanics. Every time I order or even log in, I collect themed cards that unlock exclusive rewards. There’s even an in-app currency called mojis and a steady 3% cash back on all orders.

This isn’t just a gimmick—it actually makes ordering food fun. Sizl is also available on Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, but the company’s app experience is where the magic happens.

Backed by Major Investors and Ready to Scale

The $3.5 million seed round was led by Yellow Rocks!, with support from Kinetik and notable angels like Mike Alexandrovski, co-founder of Borzo. This funding is already fueling Sizl’s expansion plans.

With two kitchens in operation, Sizl plans to launch four more locations across Chicago this year. And they’re not stopping there—Boston, Charlotte, and the San Francisco Bay Area are on the radar for future growth.

What’s Next for Sizl?

The company is already preparing for a Series A funding round expected in late 2025 or early 2026. If that’s successful, Sizl could evolve into a nationwide delivery powerhouse, all while staying true to its roots: fresh ingredients, cultural authenticity, and food made with care.

After digging into Sizl’s story, I’m genuinely excited about where it’s headed. It’s refreshing to see a food delivery startup that doesn’t compromise on quality, culture, or customer experience. Between the fresh ingredients, the family recipes, and the interactive app, Sizl feels like a delivery platform built for people who actually care about what they eat.

If you’re in Chicago and haven’t tried them yet, trust me—it’s worth a taste.

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